Analysis of the creep behavior of a square plate loaded in edge compression

Harvey G. Mccomb, Jr.naca-tn-4398SEP 1958

A theoretical analysis is made of a square simply supported plate loaded in edge compression and subject to creep. The plate is assumed to be made of a material which obeys a nonlinear creep law. An approximate solution is carried out with the use of a previously published variational theorem for creep. The theory does not yield a finite collapse time but does indicate how lateral deflections and unit shortening due to creep might be calculated. The results also show that creep can cause significant redistribution of the middle-surface stresses in a plate.